Abstract
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
- BCC expects the first commercially significant sales of graphene products
to develop before 2015 when the market is projected to be as large as $67
million. The graphene market should start to take off after 2015, reaching
nearly $675 million by 2020, reflecting a 58.7% compound annual growth rate
(CAGR) between 2015 and 2020.
- Graphene structural materials accounted for virtually all of the
commercial market for graphene technologies in 2009-2010.
- Capacitors should account for more than half of the market for graphene
technologies by 2020. This sector is estimated to be worth $26 million in 2015
and to increase at a 67% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach $340
million in 2020.
INTRODUCTION
In October 2010, two University of Manchester (U.K.) scientists, Andre Geim
and Konstantin Novolselov, were awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in physics for
their research on graphene. Graphene is a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon whose
strength, flexibility, and electrical conductivity have opened up new horizons
for high-energy particle physics research and electronic, optical, and energy
applications.
Potential electronics applications of graphene include ultra-small
transistors, super-dense data storage, touch screens, and wearable
electronics. In the energy field, potential applications include
ultracapacitors to store and transit electrical power and highly efficient
solar cells.
Some researchers argue that graphene' s greatest potential lies in its ability
to conduct light as well as electricity. They believe that graphene can
improve the efficiency of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and aid in the
production of next-generation devices like flexible touch screens,
photodetectors, and ultrafast lasers.
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Graphene offers seemingly endless possibilities. However, intuition alone
tells us that not all of these possibilities are likely to become reality. The
goal of this report is to survey emerging graphene technologies and
applications, identify those that are most likely to achieve significant
commercial sales in the next 5 years to 10 years, and develop quantitative
estimates of potential sales.
The report' s specific objectives support this broad goal. These objectives
include identifying the graphene technologies and applications with the
greatest commercial potential in the 2010 to 2020 time frame, identifying
market drivers and evaluating obstacles to their successful commercialization,
and projecting their future sales.
SCOPE OF REPORT
The report addresses emerging global markets for graphene, including the
applications listed below:
- Computing/data processing
- Data storage
- Displays
- Antennas
- Solar cells
- Sensing and imaging
- Capacitors
- Research
The study format includes the following major elements:
- Executive summary
- Definitions
- General properties of graphene
- Historical milestones in the development of graphene
- Emerging and developmental graphene technologies and applications that
have the greatest commercial potential through 2020
- Detailed market estimates and projections for each application and
material during the period 2010 to 2015
- General assessment of expected market trends in the longer term (2016 to
2020)
- Companies that are producing or developing commercial graphene
applications Patent analysis
INFORMATION SOURCES AND METHODOLOGY
Projecting the market for emerging technologies, whose commercial potential
has not yet been proven, is a challenging task. This is nowhere more true than
the graphene field, which may help to explain why many analysts focus on
supply-side technology assessments.
However, BCC' s objective in this report is to provide not just a technology
assessment but also an initial commercial assessment of the potential
commercial market for graphene. To accomplish this objective, BCC used a
multiphase approach to identify the graphene applications with the greatest
commercial potential and quantify the related markets
In the first phase of the analysis, BCC identified a long list of potential
graphene applications, including those that are still under development. In
the second phase, BCC eliminated those applications that appear to have little
likelihood of making it into commercial use in the next 5 years to 10 years,
through a literature review and interviews with industry sources. The result
of phase two was a short list of graphene applications with the greatest
commercial potential over the time period covered by this report.
The third phase focused on quantifying the potential market for each
short-listed application and identifying the main prerequisites for commercial
success. Phase three actually had two phases: 1) development of near to
mid-term (2010 to 2015) projections and 2) development of longer-term (2016 to
2020) projections. The development of such long-term projections is a
departure from the usual BCC report format, necessitated by the long time
frame for commercialization of many of the technologies analyzed in this
report. Obviously, the projections for the out-years beyond 2015 are more
tentative than the projections for 2010 to 2015.
The specific assumptions and approach BCC used to develop the projections
(both near/mid-term and long term) for each graphene application are
documented in detail under the various applications addressed. This way,
readers can see how the market estimates were developed and, if they so
desire, test the impact on the final numbers of changing the underlying
assumptions.
One of the approaches used by BCC deserves special mention here. Particularly
in the case of graphene applications that are still under development, BCC
used the sales performance of nongraphene applications that shares some of the
same functions or shares other characteristics with the graphene application
as a benchmark for assessing the latter' s sales potential.
ANALYST CREDENTIALS
Andrew McWilliams, the author of this report, is a partner in the Boston-based
international technology and marketing consulting firm, 43rd Parallel, LLC. He
is the author of a number of other BCC Research market opportunity reports on
advanced materials technologies.
Table of Contents
Graphene: Technologies, Applications, and Markets
Chapter- 1: INTRODUCTION - Complimentary
- STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
- INTENDED AUDIENCE
- SCOPE OF REPORT
- INFORMATION SOURCES AND METHODOLOGY
- ANALYST CREDENTIALS
- RELATED BCC RESEARCH REPORTS
- BCC ONLINE SERVICES
- DISCLAIMER
Chapter- 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Chapter- 3: OVERVIEW
- GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF GRAPHENE
Chapter- 4: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING
- SUMMARY
- TECHNOLOGIES
- PROPERTIES AND ADVANTAGES VS. OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
- APPLICATIONS AND END USES
- COMMERCIAL STATUS
- MARKET
- Table 4: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE INTERCONNECTS, THROUGH 2020
Chapter- 5: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR DATA STORAGE APPLICATIONS
- SUMMARY
- TECHNOLOGIES
- PROPERTIES AND ADVANTAGES VS. OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
- COMMERCIAL STATUS
- END USES AND APPLICATIONS
- MARKETS
- Table 5: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE MEMORY APPLICATIONS, THROUGH 2020
Chapter- 6: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR COMMUNICATIONS APPLICATIONS
- SUMMARY
- TECHNOLOGIES
- PROPERTIES AND ADVANTAGES VS. COMPETING TECHNOLOGIES
- APPLICATIONS AND END USES
- COMMERCIAL STATUS
- MARKET
- Table 6: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE COMMUNICATIONS APPLICATIONS, THROUGH
2020
Chapter- 7: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS
- SUMMARY
- TECHNOLOGIES
- PROPERTIES AND ADVANTAGES VS. OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
- END USES AND APPLICATIONS
- COMMERCIAL STATUS
- MARKETS
- Table 7: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE THERMAL MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS,
THROUGH 2020
Chapter- 8: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC APPLICATIONS
- SUMMARY
- TECHNOLOGIES
- PROPERTIES AND ADVANTAGES VS. OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
- END USES AND APPLICATIONS
- COMMERCIAL STATUS
- MARKETS
- Table 8: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC APPLICATIONS, THROUGH
2020
Chapter- 9: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR SENSOR APPLICATIONS
- SUMMARY
- TECHNOLOGIES
- PROPERTIES AND ADVANTAGES VS. COMPETING TECHNOLOGIES
- END USES AND APPLICATIONS
- COMMERCIAL STATUS
- MARKETS
- Table 9: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR SENSING APPLICATIONS, THROUGH 2020
Chapter- 10: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMAGING APPLICATIONS
- SUMMARY
- TECHNOLOGIES
- PROPERTIES AND ADVANTAGES VS. OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
- END USES AND APPLICATIONS
- COMMERCIAL STATUS
- MARKET
- Table 10: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE-BASED THZ IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES,
THROUGH 2020
Chapter- 11: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES DISPLAY APPLICATIONS
- SUMMARY
- TECHNOLOGIES
- PROPERTIES AND ADVANTAGES VS. OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
- END USES AND APPLICATIONS
- COMMERCIAL STATUS
- MARKET
- Table 11: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR DISPLAY APPLICATIONS, THROUGH 2020
Chapter- 12: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR CAPACITIVE APPLICATIONS
- SUMMARY
- TECHNOLOGIES
- PROPERTIES AND ADVANTAGES VS. OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
- END USES AND APPLICATIONS
- COMMERCIAL STATUS
- MARKETS
- Table 12: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR CAPACITIVE APPLICATIONS, THROUGH 2020
Chapter- 13: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR STRUCTURAL MATERIAL APPLICATIONS
- SUMMARY
- TECHNOLOGIES
- PROPERTIES AND ADVANTAGES VS. OTHER TECHNOLOGIES
- END USES AND APPLICATIONS
- COMMERCIAL STATUS
- MARKETS
- Table 14: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE POLYMER COMPOSITES, THROUGH 2020
Chapter- 14: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR OTHER APPLICATIONS AND MARKETS
- SUMMARY
- HYDROGEN STORAGE
- ANTIBACTERIALS
- RFID TAGS
- CATALYST SUPPORTS
Chapter- 15: INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
- NUMBER AND SIZE OF COMPANIES
- COMPANY PROFILES
Chapter- 16: APPENDIX: PATENTS
- PATENT ANALYSIS
- SUMMARY OF RELEVANT PATENTS AND PATENT APPLICATIONS
List of Tables
- Summary Table: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE-BASED PRODUCTS, THROUGH 2020
- Table 1: GRAPHENE PROPERTIES
- Table 10: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE-BASED THZ IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES,
THROUGH 2020
- Table 11: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR DISPLAY APPLICATIONS, THROUGH 2020
- Table 12: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR CAPACITIVE APPLICATIONS, THROUGH 2020
- Table 13: TYPES OF CARBON NANOTUBE AND FULLERENE COMPOSITES AND THEIR
PROPERTIES
- Table 14: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE POLYMER COMPOSITES, THROUGH 2020
- Table 15: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR OTHER APPLICATIONS, THROUGH 2020
- Table 16: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE-BASED HYDROGEN STORAGE TANKS, THROUGH
2020
- Table 17: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE-BASED ANTIBACTERIAL APPLICATIONS,
THROUGH 2020
- Table 18: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE-BASED RFID ANTENNAS, THROUGH 2020
- Table 19: GLOBAL CONSUMPTION OF PLATINUM CATALYST MATERIALS AND
NANOSTRUCTURED SUPPORT MATERIALS USED IN FUEL CELLS, THROUGH 2020
- Table 2: POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS AND END USES OF GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES
- Table 20: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE CATALYST SUPPORT MATERIALS, THROUGH
2020
- Table 21: U.S. PATENTS ISSUED THROUGH DEC. 31, 2010 FOR GRAPHENE-RELATED
INVENTIONS
- Table 22: U.S. PATENT APPLICATIONS PENDING AS OF DEC. 31, 2010, FOR
GRAPHENE-RELATED INVENTIONS
- Table 3: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE BY APPLICATION, THROUGH 2020
- Table 4: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE INTERCONNECTS, THROUGH 2020
- Table 5: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE MEMORY APPLICATIONS, THROUGH 2020
- Table 6: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE COMMUNICATIONS APPLICATIONS, THROUGH
2020
- Table 7: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE THERMAL MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS,
THROUGH 2020
- Table 8: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC APPLICATIONS, THROUGH 2020
- Table 9: GRAPHENE TECHNOLOGIES FOR SENSING APPLICATIONS, THROUGH 2020
List of Figures
- Summary Figure: GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE-BASED PRODUCTS, 2009-2020
- Figure 1: TRENDS IN GLOBAL MARKET FOR GRAPHENE 2009-2020
- Figure 10: U.S. PATENTS FOR AND PATENT APPLICATIONS FOR GRAPHENE BASIC AND
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES VS. TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATIONS
- Figure 11: U.S. PATENTS FOR GRAPHENE APPLICATIONS BY TYPE OF APPLICATION
- Figure 12: MAJOR GRAPHENE IP PORTFOLIOS
- Figure 13: U.S. GRAPHENE PATENT HOLDERS/ASSIGNEES BY TYPE OF ENTITY
- Figure 14: U.S. GRAPHENE PATENT AND PATENT APPLICATION HOLDERS BY
NATIONALITY
- Figure 2: GRAPHENE APPLICATION SEGMENTS
- Figure 3: GLOBAL SALES OF GRAPHENE THERMAL MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS, 2009 -
2020
- Figure 4: GLOBAL SALES OF GRAPHENE PHOTOVOLTAIC APPLICATIONS, 2009 - 2020
- Figure 5: GLOBAL SALES OF GRAPHENE-BASED SENSORS, 2009 - 2020
- Figure 6: GLOBAL SALES OF GRAPHENE CAPACITIVE APPLICATIONS, 2009 - 2020
- Figure 7: GLOBAL SALES OF GRAPHENE POLYMER COMPOSITES, 2009 - 2020
- Figure 8: GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF COMPANIES WITH PRODUCTION OR ACTIVE
R&D ACTIVITES IN GRAPHENE
- Figure 9: TREND IN NUMBER OF U.S. GRAPHENE PATENTS ISSUED
